California School for the Deaf (CSD), Fremont boys basketball team, with a record of 21-5 and 11-3 in Bay Conference League (BCL) play during the regular season, began BCL tournament play last Wednesday, February 22nd. The Eagles were the sixth seed of eight teams that qualified for the conference tournament. Consequently, they had to forgo home court advantage and travel to play third seed Athenian of Danville for their first round game.

CSD started out strong by taking a 23-12 lead after the first of the eight minute quarters played in high school basketball. The Athenian Owls then fought back and tied the score, 39-39, after three quarters. However, the Eagles were not to be denied in their quest for victory as they out-scored the Owls 15-8 in the fourth quarter to come away with a 54-47 victory. Top scorers for CSD were Nick Hickman with 14 points, Dontae Ramirez 12 points, Michael Lizarrage 11 points and Douglas Longmire 8 points.

With the victory, CSD moved on to the semi-final round against the second seed, Berean Christian of Walnut Creek. The semi-final and finals of both the boys and girls basketball tournaments of the BCL were played last Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th, at Bentley School in Lafayette.

Again CSD started fast by taking a 41-32 lead after two quarters with the lead being as much as eleven points during the first half of play. In the second half, CSD became the victim of poor shooting, scoring only two points during the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, and the referee's whistle. They were whistled for eighteen personal fouls during the second half of play as opposed to only eight for Berean Christian. As the fourth quarter wound down, CSD trailed by as much as five points during its early quarter dry spell, but they were able tie the score. However as time ran out, CSD's last second shot to tie the score rimmed out and they went down to defeat 70-68. Top CSD scorers were Hickman with 20, Lizarraga 16, Ramirez 14, and Richard Rouse 11.

With a record of 22-6, CSD head coach, Oskar Schugg, hopes to be able to secure an at large bid for the North Coast Section tournament scheduled to begin later this week. The seeding meeting for the NCS tournament was Sunday, February 26th, and CSD would play in Division V, or smallest of the five divisions determined by enrollment, in CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) boys basketball. Good luck in securing a bid and continuing the season.